Teaching and discussing mental health among university students: a pilot arts-based study
ISSN: 0965-4283
Article publication date: 24 November 2020
Issue publication date: 19 January 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Interdisciplinary approaches to health education are becoming increasingly common. Here, the authors describe an arts-based approach designed by academics and artists to both supplement the study of mental illness and support the individual mental health of undergraduate and postgraduate university students, by raising the visibility of mental illness in an innovative way.
Design/methodology/approach
Through workshops, university students were guided in a sensory and physical way to discuss psychological health and vulnerability. This was followed by the creation of physical representations of mental distress through art pieces.
Findings
Students were able to design their own art pieces and discuss mental health issues in an open and creative way. Students reported that the arts-based initiative was beneficial to their practice as future professionals and provided a holistic learning experience. At the same time, artists were able to generate powerful images which facilitated further discussions within the faculty.
Practical implications
This project provides an innovative model for workshops which could be employed to raise the visibility of common mental health disorders among university students while providing a safe space to discuss and support wellbeing. Additionally, variations could be implemented to enhance the teaching of affective disorders within a university curriculum.
Originality/value
This paper presents the results of collaboration between academics and artists, who together generated an innovative way to both support students' mental health and provide an alternative way to supplement experiential learning about common mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by King's College London Arts in Mind Education Scheme. The authors wish to thank Ms Rachel Hill, who produced the illustrations based on students' works.
Citation
Atayero, S., Dunton, K., Mattock, S., Gore, A., Douglas, S., Leman, P. and Zunszain, P. (2021), "Teaching and discussing mental health among university students: a pilot arts-based study", Health Education, Vol. 121 No. 1, pp. 16-29. https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-08-2020-0072
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited